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Articles 1 - 8 of 8
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Distribution And Impacts Of Invasive Bivalve Corbicula Fluminea In Tidal Freshwater York River Tributaries, Matthew Ryan Freedman
Distribution And Impacts Of Invasive Bivalve Corbicula Fluminea In Tidal Freshwater York River Tributaries, Matthew Ryan Freedman
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, is one of the most invasive bivalves in the world but there is limited research on its presence in tidal freshwater systems. Despite its introduction into Chesapeake Bay tributaries in the 1970s, the initial colonization and subsequent development of populations of C. fluminea in the Mattaponi and Pamunkey sub-tributaries of the York River, Virginia, is mostly undocumented. This study assessed the spatial distribution and population structure of C. fluminea in tidal freshwater sections of these rivers (~45km) with benthic surveys during summer 2011 – 2012. Benthic grabs (2.4L, 0.023m2) taken at 40 sites in each …
The Development Of Ecological Functions In Created Forested Wetlands, Sean P. Charles
The Development Of Ecological Functions In Created Forested Wetlands, Sean P. Charles
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Wetland mitigation has become a 2.4 billion dollar per year industry in the U.S. and in Virginia it leads to the replacement of 77 ha of palustrine forested wetlands (PFWs) per year with mitigation wetlands, including created forested wetlands (CFWs). Mitigation hinges on the idea that compensation wetlands lead to “no net loss of wetland function” when compared to impacted wetlands. We assessed the functions of provision of habitat and biogeochemical functions associated with production of biomass, the retention and removal of nutrients and the accumulation of soil C over 8 years in seven CFWs of approximately 11 and 20 …
Ecologically-Framed Mercury Database, Exposure Modeling And Risk/Benefit Communication To Lower Chesapeake Bay Fish Consumers, Xiaoyu Xu
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Mercury concentrations and determinants of mercury accumulation were examined for ten finfish species from the lower Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. None of the sampled fish had total mercury concentrations approaching the U.S. EPA human health screening value. Mercury concentrations in different fish species generally increased with increasing delta 15N, but not delta 13C, suggesting that trophic position, but not dietary carbon source was a dominant determinant. A methylmercury biomagnification model was built to estimate a food web magnification factor of approximately 10-fold increase per trophic level in Chesapeake Bay. Based on otolith strontium-calcium ratios, Atlantic croaker inhabiting less saline …
Modeling The Formation Of Periodic Hypoxia In Partially Mixed Estuaries And Its Response To Oligotrophication And Climate Change, Samuel J. Lake
Modeling The Formation Of Periodic Hypoxia In Partially Mixed Estuaries And Its Response To Oligotrophication And Climate Change, Samuel J. Lake
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The development of hypoxia represents one of the most common and ecologically detrimental effects of anthropogenic nutrient enrichment in coastal marine ecosystems. Due to the physiological importance of oxygen as a key component of metabolic processes, the development and persistence of hypoxia can reduce the distribution of important species, modify food webs, decrease diversity and richness, and sub-lethally affect growth and reproductive rates. While many recent studies have focused on the global increase in hypoxia and highlighted the need for nutrient reduction strategies, some key processes associated with hypoxia remain understudied. of particular importance is the resolution of the major …
Habitat And Fish Population Dynamics: Advancing Stock Assessments Of Highly Migratory Species, Patrick D. Lynch
Habitat And Fish Population Dynamics: Advancing Stock Assessments Of Highly Migratory Species, Patrick D. Lynch
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Fisheries sustainability is inherently linked to an understanding of the population-level effects of fishing. With an accurate characterization of historical fish and fishery dynamics, management agencies are more equipped to create regulations that sustain fishery resources over the long term. The overarching goal of this dissertation is to contribute to the advancement of fisheries stock assessment and promote resource sustainability. My research focused on highly migratory species (HMS), particularly fishes that reside in the open ocean. These species constitute some of the highest valued global fisheries; however, numerous factors compromise HMS stock assessment and management. These challenges are fully described …
Sublethal Effects Of Methylmercury On Flight Performance And Molt In European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris), Jenna Rae Carlson
Sublethal Effects Of Methylmercury On Flight Performance And Molt In European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris), Jenna Rae Carlson
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Methylmercury Exposure Affects Risk-Taking Behaviors In Zebra Finches: Tradeoffs Between Eating And Being Eaten, Megan Elizabeth Kobiela
Methylmercury Exposure Affects Risk-Taking Behaviors In Zebra Finches: Tradeoffs Between Eating And Being Eaten, Megan Elizabeth Kobiela
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Are Occupancy Models Feasible Alternatives To Collecting Breeding Data?, Morgan D. Niccoli
Are Occupancy Models Feasible Alternatives To Collecting Breeding Data?, Morgan D. Niccoli
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.